Top Twilight Travel Sites
Stephenie Meyer may have never dreamed that her research visit to the small town of Forks, WA would bring much needed revenue into the travel industry. Her successful Twilight Saga and now the film Twilight has become the focus of the female teen scene (and also a number of mamas) and has renewed the idea of Vampire Tourism that first began with Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Mamas love movies, books, and their locations. I decided that it was time to read the Twilight Saga before watching this movie, to see what the hype was all about. The books are very engaging and I can understand the appeal it has to teenage girls. Many fans have fallen in love with the fictional characters Edward and Jacob. I spoke briefly with a film critic acquaintance who wished to remain anonymous for copyright reasons. I think he just doesn’t want anyone to know that as a 30 something male, he actually enjoyed the movie. He was surprised that he liked it and recommends it as a date movie that guys can sit through.
Just in case you’ve ever wondered where some of the places mentioned in the books or movie are, I thought it would be nice to help you in your quest for more Twilight in your lives. Here are a few of the top travel spots mentioned in the books or movie that YOU can visit:
Forks, Washington – The town is not fictional, but is actually located on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. Here, fans and tourists can find the actual places listed in the series, such as Bella’s House, Forks High School, Forks Police Station, and even take a shopping trip inside of Forks Outfitters. Is the Miller Tree Inn Bed and Breakfast really the setting for the Cullen’s home? It is close enough for many fans, and you can spend the night here also. The Forks Chamber of Commerce offers guided tours, which must be reserved in advanced. They’ll even take visitors to the Quillayute Prairie Cemetery, which serves as the Cullen’s baseball field in the book.
La Push – The unincorporated community of La Push is near Forks, WA and is part of the Quileute Indian Reservation. The fictional Jacob Black lives in La Push and it is here, at First Beach, where Bella and Jacob spend a good deal of time together.
Hoh Rainforest – This rainforest is located in Olympic National Park, a 30 minute drive from Forks, WA. It spans 70 miles, from the glaciers of Mount Olympus to the Pacific Ocean. Rustic cabin lodging is available at Hard Rain Café starting at around $69 per night and campsites are $15 per night.
Port Angeles – La Bella Italia Restaurant is where Bella and Edward (well, maybe just Bella) ate a dish of mushroom ravioli, which was just recently added to the regular menu. Diners can also order a glass of vampire wine and finish the meal off with Twilight cupcakes.
If you plan on exploring the Olympic Peninsula, Nerd’s Eye View offers great suggestions on a quick visit.
Volterra, Italy – This town is located in the Tuscany region of Italy and is home to the fictional Volturi, considered to be the royal family of vampires. This ancient city’s underground is where the Volturi lead unsuspecting tourists to their deaths.
Film Sites – Due to movie industry incentives and overall film budget, the screen adaptation of Twilight was filmed in the Oregon cities of St. Helen’s and Portland. FanTrips.Travel offers guided tours (with lodging and meals) that take fans through the film sites, including the Columbia River Gorge, View Point Inn (where Bella and Edward spend time after the Prom), and the Historic District of St. Helen’s serves as the stand in for Forks, WA. This tour runs between $800-$1000 per person.
This quick video of First Beach in LaPush, WA by striatic gives an idea of the atmosphere Bella and Jacob shared during their discussions on the beach.
I love seeing the locations that inspire writers!
I hadn’t heard about the Twilight series until two weeks ago. I guess I wasn’t paying attention! I’m almost finished with the second book and I can see why the teens and young adults are crazy over them.
I’m here to tellya, Forks is just not that nice of a place. But I LOVE the Olympic Peninsula, it is one of my favorite places on the planet. I go out there every year at least once and I don’t count on good weather. The Hoh is gorgeous, the beaches are truly spectacular, and if the towns are, sorry, a little dumpy, a little run down, well, nature makes up for all that. I’m glad that Twilight is sending money out there and maybe, the Twilight phenomenon will bring better places for visitors and money to the pockets of the long strapped former loggers.
Kimba – I didn’t start reading the books until 2 weeks ago also. I’m a late bloomer. lol.
Pam – I’d love to see some of those beaches. As far as Forks is concerned, the author did use these places as inspiration for her saga and people are flocking there. Maybe the interest will bring in needed money for their local economy.
On our blog we posted about being at the release party for the fourth book, the excitement was crackling in the air with a gaggle of girls so happy to read the last book, I ended up catching the giggly fever just being in the middle of them, I hadn’t even read the books. I spent this afternoon taking the same group to see the movie and it was so much fun. I think I’m going to have succumb to reading the books, and taking my husband to see the movie. I’m sure a Twilight tour is in our near future, thank you for the info!
I am a restaurant owner near one of the locations of the filming – St. Helens, OR. The store where Bella and friends went shopping and the restaurant front, Bella’s Dad’s house were all filmed about 6 blocks from each other.
I think that St. Helens is a lovely little town for seeing movie locations. The Tourism committee is putting together a map of locations for sight-seeing.
Our restaurant had a flash of a moment in the movie during the part where Edward saved Bella from the bad teens.
I had an unrelated trip to Wa in October before I read any of the books. Hitting a lot of the places mentioned made the books all the more real when I was reading them. I could feel the cold and see the mossy trees in my mind so vividly. Twilight addictions aside, they are beautiful charming places. The Hoh rain forest is one of the most amazing sites I have seen and Olympic National Park has some amazing beaches. The trip would not disappoint even those with no interest at all in Twilight.
Twilight is a thousand times better than Harry Potter. I really love this movie, it is the best movie i have ever watched.
Yes, Iam a guy, but me and my wife have read the books and seen the movie countless times on DVD. I do believe this out does Harry Potter. Me and my wife are in the process of trying to plan a vacation there. It would be nice to see the sites. I believe this communty will see a influx of tourists.
Yes, Iam a guy, but me and my wife have read the books and seen the movie countless times on DVD. I do believe this out does Harry Potter. Me and my wife are in the process of trying to plan a vacation there. It would be nice to see the sites. I believe this communty will see a influx of tourists.
I chose to write fiction about this area and researched some of the expeditions into the forest led by the military.
The explorer Fisher left this chronicle:
I wrote a story about this region and found some interesting tales about the military expeditions into the forest by O’Neil. The explorer, Fisher, left this account:
“While the cook was getting up an elegant bear stew the camp…was mending shoes and clothing…. it was wonderful that we had any clothing left upon us, for the dogs had worn the hair away from their sides in crowding throught the brush….although we had an abundance of soap and water, we were soiled beyond the controll of detergents. Clothing all patched, we were a motley-looking set. ..”
oh i am so addicted to watching Twilight movie on my portable DVD player and laptop. Twilight is the best ever movie for me ^
There are so many places on-line with information as to Twilight/New moon touring sites. We are flying into Seattle and touring from there. Do you have any ideas from Portland, Or to Forks, La Push and Saint Angeles as a self tour guided trip of areas/places to not miss. Appreciate any ideas. Will start in Portland area first. You have a great site.
Thanks, Susan
There are so many places on-line with information as to Twilight/New moon touring sites. We are flying into Seattle and touring from there. Do you have any ideas from Portland, Or to Forks, La Push and Saint Angeles as a self tour guided trip of areas/places to not miss. Appreciate any ideas. Will start in Portland area first. You have a great site.
Thanks, Susan
As a new transplant to the Pacific NW – Forks and La Push is the first place my daughter and I visited! I blogged about it a couple of weeks ago 🙂 http://denvertoseattle.blogspot.com/search/label/Twilight – Love your site!!
I had no idea that the Bella Italia locations were actually a real restaurant. I wish I wasn’t always so ill-informed, I must be the last person to find this out.